Operating mechanism for signals and the like.



W. SPARKS.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SIGNALS AND THE LIKE,-

.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1914. 1 P L ig fifia Patented Sept. 4, 191?.

1 j A TTOANEY.

. be accurately governed.

pivirn s'rarne rann nrubia.

WILLIAM SPARKS, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN, assreivon TO Tire sPARKs- WITHINGTON COMPANY, A CORPORATION or orrro.

OPERATING MECHANISM FORSIGNALS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4t, 1917.

Original application filed November 14, 1913, Serial No. 800,955. Divided and this application filed. June To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WV LLIAn SPARKS, of Jackson, in the county of Jackson, in the State of Michigan, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Operating Mechanism for Signals and the like, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to" certainimprovements in signals and more particularly to mechanically operated signals of the diaphragm type, and although susceptible of many and varied uses is particularly for use in connection with automobiles, motor-boats and other moving bodies, and is. a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 800,955, filed November 14, 1913, whichap plication contains the broad claimsto the signal, while the claims of this application relate broadly to means for changing reci'procatory into rotary motion, particularly adapted for use in the signal disclosed here in but susceptible of use in any. other construction or place where it is desired to convert reciprocatory into rotary motion, and the claims herein are therefore not limited to signals or any other particular use, construction or device. a

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive construction for changing reciprocatory into rotary motion by means of which the speed ofv the rotary motion can be easily determined and the extent of the same can i The particular construction by which this is accomplished is applicable to many and various uses, and as illustrative of one of such uses the same is shown in connection with a diaphragm horn in which the actuator for the diaphragm is mounted upon the element to whichrotary movement is adapted to 'be given. a y y V Other objects and uses appear in the details of construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figurelis a central, longitudinal, cross section ofa signal illustrating the use of this invention.

Serial No. 844,152.

Fig 2 is a top plan view partially in section, the amplifier being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a view of the ratchet case with its cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a view of the operating nut formed with a ratchet face.

' Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the operatingjaws engaging with the ratchet clutch.

The signal as shown comprising a diaphragm l having its marginal portion confined between the base of an amplifier 2- and a suitable case section 3 connected by screws l passed through the amplifier section .2- and threaded into the case section -3, although this construction may be reversed or any other suitable connecting means substituted.

The base of the amplifier is obliquely disposed with respect to the plane of the diaphragm and a portion of the case section is similarly obliquely disposed and provided with a depressed central portion 5 to form a j diaphragm case within which the diaphragm may freelyyibrate.

A cup shape casing 6- of slightly greater diameter than. the depressed portion of the case section 3, slidably engages the circumferential flange 7- formed by depressing the portion 5 of the section 3- and is secured theretoby means of screws -8, although any other suitable means may be substituted therefor. The casing 6 is provided with opposite bearings 9 and -10 preferably having conical sockets as shown for the receptionof a squared conical ended shaft 11.

The bearing -9, as shown, may be rigidly secured to the casing 6 in any suitable manner as by welding, or it maybe a removable adjustable bearing similar to the bearing 10- which, in this instance, is formed by having the bearing "10 externally threaded for coaction with an in ternally threaded portion of the casing 6 and preferably having a similar threaded relation with a reinforcing plate 12 positioned within the casing, so thatthe bearing is adjustable through the easingand may be located in any of its adjusted positions by means of the nut 13-.

allowing a return of said nut to normal po-. sition on the shaft without rotation of said shaft by allowing the nut itself to rotate upon the return movement, a case 15 is provided adapted to be positioned on said.

shaft --lland having a seat 16 formed concentric with the shaft opening 17 for the reception of the nut H which has one of its faces provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth having abrupt radial faces on one side only, and adapted to engage projections or stops 18 when the ratchet is turned in one direction and to freely ride over said stops when moving in the other direction.

The case 15 is sufliciently deep to permit nut 14:- to lie in a position at which the teeth thereon will not engage the stops 18 upon the case. This is the condition when the nut lies in contact with the cover .19. In other words,v the chamber ithin the case is of sufficient depth to allow nut -14:- with the teeth thereon to move out of engagement with the stops upon the case so that the nut may freely rotate within and with respect to the case.

vl/Vhen thecase is moved downwardly by the operating handle, nut 14 remains substantially stationary until the side of the case -15 having stops 18 thereon comes into contact with the nut therebyinterlocking the teeth upon the nut with the 1 until cover 19 comes into contact with I of the nut within the case.

The case -15- is provided with a suitable cover 19- secured thereto in any suitable manner and adapted to inclose the nut 14. The nut 14 has a central opening -20 of angular form adapted to substantially fit the shaft 11- for transment of the shaft, and likewise permits the easy and free return of the nut along the shaft under operating conditions, permitting the rotation of the nut relatively to the case 15. The faces around and forming the square opening in said nut are, as stated, obliquely disposed and beveled progressively from one corner toward the next succeeding corner and from a point adja cent one face toward the opposite face at the next succeeding corner.

The case 15, the nut 14 and the cover 19- form a device which is herein after termed a ratchet clutch, and for the purpose of moving this clutch along the shaft 11- whereby the shaft is rotated by the action of the nut '1 4 the case-15- is provided with oppositely disposed pintles 21- and 22suitably engaged by jaws 23 and 24 formed upon the bifurcated end 25 of an operating lever 26. The lever 26 is pivoted upon a bolt 27- supported in any suitable manner as by an angle bar 28 operably secured to the casing -6 by screws -29-.

A suitable spring 30 has its central portion tensioned around the bolt 27- and its ends respectively bearing against the casing 6 and the lever 26- onthe side of its pivot next the ratchet clutch, so

that thespring normally tends to return the lever to starting position after each opera tion and this return is rapid and easy by reason of the fact that the teeth upon the nut 14 slide over the'stops 18' upon this return movement so that the nut itself may rotate, thereby obviating the rotation of the shaft 11 and the vibration of the diaphragm as hereinafter described.

A suitable toothed or cam wheel 31- is mounted on the shaft 11 and preferably has its marginal portion disposed in a plane substantially midway of the diaphragm --1- and operating through a slot 6 formed in the depressed portion 5- of the case section 3, and its cenplane of its marginal portion, so that the cam wheel may force the vibration of the diaphragm at substantially the central point tral portion depressed or offset from the thereof, and yet the shaft 11- may have its spirally arranged portion extend somewhat more than one-half the length of the shaft so that a more extensive rotary movement may be imparted to the cam wheel than would be possible if the wheel were journaled upon the central portion of the Shaft 11-.

The diaphragm -1-- is provided with a suitable contact member 82 cooperating with the wheel 81 to vibrate the diaphragm and this contact member is preferably externally threaded for coaction with an internally threaded bushing 33- secured to the diaphragm in any suitable manner, as by having one of its ends welded over a washer 34: and the contact mem ber may be adjusted toward and from the toothed wheel 31- by means of this threaded relation, and may be locked in any predetermined adjusted position by a lock nut -35.

Although I have shown and described the invention herein as specifically applied to a signal, it should be understood that such showing is merely illustrative of one application of the invention, which broadly relates to a means for translating longitudinal into rotary movement as specifically set forth in the claims hereto appended and without regard to the specific type of apparatus in connection with which the inven tion may be used.

What I claim is:

1. In a signal, a. spiral shaft of angular cross section, a nut having an angular opening substantially fitting the shaft, the faces around the angular opening being beveled progressively from one corner toward the next succeeding corner.

2. In a signal, a spiral shaft of angular cross section, a nut having an angular opening substantially fitting the shaft, the faces around the angular opening being beveled progressively from one corner and at a point adjacent one face to the next succeeding corner and toward the opposite face.

3. In a mechanical movement device, a square shaft having a portion twisted to form spiral pathways, a nut having a square opening adapted to substantially fit the shaft and mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally of the same, the faces around the square opening in said nut being beveledprogressi ely from one corner and at a point adjacent one face to the next suc ceeding corner and toward the opposite face.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this second day of June, 191-1.

-WILLIAM SPARKS.

Witnesses:

LILLIAN VVUNDERLIGH, 7. J. CoRBE'r'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. C. 

